Front driving and steering mechanism for motor-vehicles.



M. W. SAPPINGTON & E. S. HORNBEGK.

FRONT DRIVING AND STEERING MECHANISM FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED DIX/.14. 1911. 1,048 21 3 I Patented Dec. 24, 1912.

2 SHEETS--SHEET 2.

MW. Sapp'm i014 wwwwwo E. S fiombec k attozueuo M. W. SAPPINGTON & E. S.HORNBEOK. FRONT DRIVING AND STEERING MECHANISM FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.APPLICATION IILED D3014. 1911.

1,048,21 3 V Patented Dec.24,191 2.

L 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1. 7 4r 4 MERRICK W. SAPPINGTO'N AND EDWARD S.HOBNBECK, OF WINCHESTER, ILLINOIS.

FRONT DRIVING AND STEERING MECHANISM FOR MOTOR-VEHICLES.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, MERRICK W. SAPPING- TON and EDWARD S. HORNBECK,citizens of the United States, residing at Winchester, 1n the county ofScott and State of Illinois. have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Front Driving and Steering Mechanism for Motor-Vehicles;and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

TlllS invention relates to improvements in front driving and steeringmechanism for motor vehicles.

- One object .of the invention is to improve the construction andoperation of the mechanism shown in United States Patent No. 990,073granted to us April 18, 1911, whereby a stronger, more durable andeflicient driving and steering mechanism is provided.

Another object is to simplify the construction shown in the above namedpatent whereby the expense of manufacturing the same will be greatlyreduced.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists of certainnovel features of construction, and the combination and arrangement ofparts as will be more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 is a central vertical sectionalview of a portion of the axle and front wheel of a motor vehicleembodying our invention; Fig. 2 is.

a central horizontal section of the same; Fig. 3 is a cross sectionalview through the axle showing an inner slde view of the hub of the wheelFig. 4 is an outer side View of the same Fig. 5 is a vertical sectionalview taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a detail view of theend of the axle and the spherical head thereon.

Our improved driving mechanlsm comprises a hub consisting of a maininner member 1, comprising a plate having on its outer edge a lateralinwardly extending flange 2 in which are formed spoke sockets 3 in whichare engaged the spokes 4 of the wheel, said spokes being secured in thesockets by bolts 0 as shown. On the inner portion of the plate 1 isformed an inwardl extending bearing sleeve 6 in the inner en of which 18formed a shaft opening 7 the edges of which are flared outwardly asshown to permit the hub to freely turn on the axle. In the outer portionof the sleeve 6 and front side of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 14, 1911.

Patented Dec. 24, 1912.

Serial No. 665,707.

plate 1 is formed a cylindrical recess 8 with which is engaged thecentral member 9 of the hub, said member being in the form of acylindrical block having in its inner side a hemispherical shapedbearing seat 10 which forms a continuation of the inner wall of thesleeve 6 and together therewith forms a substantially spherical shapedball socket in the center of the hub.

On the outer side of the main member or plate of the hub around theouter edge of the recess 8 therein and spaced a suitable distance fromsaid edge is an annular outwardly extending flange 11, the outer side ofwhich is threaded. On the outer edge of the central member 9 of the hubis formed a radially projecting annular flange 12 which fits into theannular space between the flange 11 and the wall of the recess 8 asclearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing. When thus arranged thecentral member 9 of the hub is secured by a circular cap plate 13 havingan interiorly threaded annular flange 14 on its outer ed e which isadapted to engage the threaded ange 11 on the main portion ofthe hub.

bly engaged with an axle 15 having on its ends spherical heads 16, oneof which is shown in the present instance, said head being engaged withthe ball socket formed in the sections of the hub as hereinbeforedescribed. In the outer side of the head at diametrically oppositepoints are formed segmental grooves or recesses 17 disposedlongitudinally or in the same plane as the axle as shown. In theadjacent surfaces of the inner wall of the sleeve 6 and thehemispherical shaped recess 10 in the central portion 9 of the hub areformed hemispherical shaped recesses 18 in which are seated hearingballs 19. At right angles to the recesses 17 and at diametricallyopposite points in the head 16 are formed. hemispherical shapednotchesor recesses 20 which register with segmental grooves or recesses21 formed in the adjacent inner wall of the sleeve 6 and thehemispherical shaped recess 10 of the hub member 9. With the recesses 20and segmental grooves 21 are engaged bearing balls 22. By thus arrangingthe balls 19 and 22 and the recesses in the head of the axle andadjacent parts of the hub, the latter is securely locked againstcircumferential movement on the axle but is free to swing thereon in ahorizontal plane thus The hub when thus constructed is revolu- Vpermitting the axle to drive the hub and wheel, at the same timepermitting said wheel to be turned for steering the vehicle in thedesired direction.

Engaged with the rear side of the plate or main vmember 1 of the hubbetween the flange 2 and the sleeve 6 is an annular bearing plate orring 23 in the inner and outer sides of which, adjacent to its outeredge are formed annular ball races 24 with which are engagedannularseries of bearing balls 25 and 26, said balls 25 also engaging anannular ball race 27 formed in the adjacent surface of the plate or mainmember 1 of the hub, while the balls 26 also engage an annular ball race28 formed in an annular retaining plate or ring 29 which is secured tothe rear side of the main member 1 of the hub by screws 30 or othersuitable fastening devices, said plate having its inner portionprojecting inwardly over the outer portion of the bearing ring 23 asshown.

In the bearing ring 23 at diametrically opposite points above and belowthe center of the axle are formed elongated slots 31 with which areengaged-the outer ends of curved hub attaching arms 32 formed on theouter end of the sleeve or stationary portion 33 of the axle in whichthe revoluble portion 15 of the axle is mounted. The ends of the arms 32are pivotally secured in the slots 31 of the annular plate or ring 23 bypivot screws 3 1 arranged through the arms 32 and having a screwthreaded engagement with the ring or plate 23 as clearly shown in Fig. 1of the drawings. To the rear side of the annular plate or ring 23between the inner edge of the plate 29-and the socket 6 is a crank arm35 to which is adapted to be connected the usual or any suitable form ofsteering rod not shown. By thus arranging the crank arm 35 the. wheelmay be turned to the right or to the left for the purpose of steeringthe vehicle without interfering in any manner with the driving mechanismof the wheel.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, the construction and operation of'the invention will bereadily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details ofconstruction may be resorted to without departing from the principle orsacrificing any of the advantages of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is;

In a front driving and steering mechanism for motor vehicles, a hubcomprising a main member havin thereon a centrally disposed inwardly prOectingbearing sleeve having a partial ball seat therein, an annularinwardly extending flange formed on the outer edge of said member, acentral hub member removably engaged with the outer end of the sleeve insaid main member, saidcentral' hub member having formed therein a seatadapted to form with the partial seat in the maln member, a ball socket,a cap engaged with said main member and adapted to hold said centralmember in operative position, an axle, a spherical head formed on theend thereof and adapted to engage the socket formed by the seats in saidhub members, means to lock said hub members against circumferentialmovement on the head and to permit said hub to swing laterally in ahorizontal plane, an annular bearing plate arranged in said outer memberof the hub and having a ball bearing engagement with the annular flangethereon whereby said hub is revolubly supported, said plate havingtherein oppositely disposed slots, at stationary sleeve arranged on saidaxle, arms formed on the end of said sleeves and having their endsprojecting into the slots in said bearing plate, means to pivotallyconnect the ends of said arms to said plate, whereby the latter and thehub are permitted to swing laterally in a horizontal plane, and asteering arm secured to said bearing plate.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

MERRIOK 'W. SAPPINGTON. EDWARDS. HORNBECK.

Witnesses:

R. O. RENNER, C. J. HAWKINS.

